Shele bracket structure



Dec. 19, 1967 1.. E. THORNTON 3,358,956

SHELF BRACKET STRUCTURE v Filed Sept 20, 1965 FIG. I

INVENTOR LEE E. THORNTON ATTORNEY United States Patent $358,956 SHELFBRACKET STRUCTURE Lee E. Thornton, Niles, Mich, assignor to ClarkEquipment Company, a corporation of Michigan Filed Sept. 20, 1965, Ser.No. 488,311 4 Claims. (Cl. 248243) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shelfpanel supported by two brackets each individually attached to slottedvertical uprights. A coil spring is attached to the end of each bracket.The free end of the coil is formed into a hook that fits over the outeredge of the shelf panel. The springs are extended to hook over the edgeof the shelf panel to bias the anel backwardly and downwardly.

The present invention relates to a shelf bracket structure, and moreparticularly to a structure for demountable shelf panels.

In display shelving for stores, the shelves are often in the form ofshelf panels demountably or removably supported on shelf bracketsmounted on posts or uprights, that is, not secured by screws or otherfasteners to the brackets. This allows simple and easy assembly andchanging of shelving. Such shelves present a problem in securement ofthe panels, which heretofore have commonly been simply disposed or laidupon the brackets. The brackets accordingly have been formed of a lengthto extend outwardly beyond the forward edges of the shelf panels, andprovided with upward projections to prevent outward or forward movementof the panels. The panels can readily be moved longitudinally orupwardly, or even be completely dislodged, by a relatively slight force.Thus accidental movement against the shelving by a customer or salesperson, or original research into shelf construction by children, mayresult in spoiling a display effect, damaging or even destroying thedisplayed items or elements of the shelving, or personal injury. Inaddition, such shelving is subject to swaying because the brackets mayswing to some extent in a horizontal plane. There is a furtherdifliculty due to the fact that some merchandising accessories, such asmerchandise dividers, are designed for attachment to the shelf panel bymeans of clips or like elements which extend about the rear edgethereof. Such clips or similar securing means engage against the backpanels or like elements of support structure, so that the forward paneledge is located too far forward for retaining engagement by the upwardend projections of the brackets. Either provision must be made foradjusting the length of the brackets, or the brackets changed. Someattempts have been made to meet the difliculties inherent in shelving ofthe type described, but none with any appreciable success.

The present invention provides a solution for all of these problems in avery simple and economical manner. Briefly, a knife bracket is providedwith resilient means extensible in the plane of the bracket to engagewith the shelf panel and bias it in the direction of the mounted end ofthe bracket, as well as apply a downward component of the biasing force.Specifically, the bracket of the invention is formed of a length lessthan the width of the panel to be supported, and has attached to itsouter or forward end a coil spring which has a hook-like extensionengageable over the forward edge portion of the panel upon stretching ofthe spring.

The panel is thus urged rearwardly or inwardly against the uprightsupporting structure on which the brackets are mounted, so as tominimize swaying of the shelving ice construction, and at the same timeis urged downwardly against the panel so as to resist upward movement.The tensioned engagement with the forward or outer edge of the shelfpanel provides frictional resistance to longitudinal movement of thepanel, that is, movement transversely of the brackets, sufficient inmost cases to prevent such movement, and in any case minimizing suchmovement under any given force. Another result is that the bracketadjusts to an increase in the effective width of the panel due to themounting thereon of a merchandise divider or other accessory, it beingonly necessary to stretch the spring slightly more. Similarly, ofcourse, the bracket adjusts to panels of different widths.

It is accordingly one of the objects of the invention to provide a shelfbracket structure by which movement of a shelf panel transversely of orupwardly from the bracket is strongly resisted if not completelyprevented, by which the shelf is biased against upright supportingstructure for the bracket so as to minimize swaying, and which adjuststo shelf panels of different widths or to a change in the effectivewidth of the shelf panel, as by application thereto of a merchandisingaccessory. The objects of the invention also include the provision of anovel shelf support structure embodying the bracket of the invention,and a method of supporting a shelf panel in a novel and advantageousmanner.

Other and further objects, advantages and features of the invention willbe apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a shelf bracket according to thepresent invention, and

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a shelf structureincorporating a pair of brackets according to the invention securing ashelf panel in desired relation.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown one form of bracket providedin accordance with the invention, generally designated 10, comprising abracket body 11 of the knife type, formed as a single thickness of sheetmaterial having a straight upper edge portion extending forwardly from arear or mounting edge providing a flat edge portion 12 of appreciableextent adapted to engage in vertical relation against the face of asuitable supporting member, such as one of the slotted uprights shown inFIG. 2. Hook-like projections 13 extend from the rear edge 12 formounting on an upright support, as by engagement through suitable slotsor similar apertures provided therein, and an additional projection ortang 14 may be provided to engage in another such aperture to providefor greater stability of the bracket. A coil spring 15 is provided withan eye or loop portion 16 at one end, and an integrally extendingportion 17 at the other end, the extremity of which is formed into ahook portion 18. This hook portion is adapted to receive the forwardedge of a shelf panel, as shown in FIG. 2, with the spring disposedbelow the panel, the upper end of the hook portion overlying the surfaceof the panel at the forward edge thereof. This upper end of the hookportion may, as shown in FIG. 2, be formed in a fiat eye or loop 19 tofinish off the hook portion and increase the effective area bearing uponthe panel. The eye or loop portion 16 is secured to the forward end ofthe bracket body 11 as by linked engagement with an aperture 20 providedin the body. Of course, an open-ended slot might be employed instead ofthe aperture 20, or other means might be employed for attaching thespring 15 to the bracket body 11.

In FIG. 2, a shelf panel 25, in this case shown as formed of glass, isillustrated as supported on a pair of brackets 10 according to theinvention, each of the brackets being supported in one of a pair ofupright members 30, shown in this case as of channel form with a seriesof vertically spaced slots 31 formed in the web thereof for receivingthe rear edge projections 13 and 14 of the bracket to mountthe bracketthereon at the level of any desired aperture, in a manner well known inthe art. The upright structure in this case is illustrated as alsoincluding a plurality of vertical panels 32 each extending between apair of uprights 30, and preferably flush with the forward surfacesthereof. These back panels may be of any suitable material, such aswood, plywood, hardboard, metal, plasterboard or the like. Of course,the uprights 30 may be employed alone as the upright structure, the backpanels 32 being omitted.

A merchandise divider 35 is shown in FIG. 2 as applied to the shelfpanel 25, the divider in this case comprising a wire or rod 36 formedinto a number of reverse bends, and supported in a vertical plane by apair of channel members 37 to which the opposite ends of the wire 36 aresecured, as by welding. The channel elements 37 are arranged so as toopen toward each other, and are engaged over opposite edge portions ofthe shelf panel 25, as is clear from the figure. A divider of this typemay readily be adjusted to panels of different widths, by reason of theflexibility of the wire or rod of which it is formed. Of course, thedivider might be formed of a sheet of metal, plastic, or other suitablematerial, foregoing the adjustability illustrated, or with other meansprovided to allow of adjustment to differing panel widths.

As will be apparent from FIG. 2, the springs 15 of the brackets 10 arestretched in order to have the hook portions 18 engage over the forwardedge of the panel 25. The major component of the spring force ishorizontal, in the rearward direction. The panel 25 is thus biasedrearwardly or toward the upright structure provided by the uprights 30and panels 32, and thus serves as a brace or rigidifying member tominimize sway of the shelf structure. A vertical component of theresilient force is also applied to the forward edge of the shelf panel,biasing the panel downwardly against the brackets. In the particulararrangement illustrated, the stabilizing or rigidifying effect of theshelf panel 25 on the shelf structure is reduced to a certain extent bythe presence of a channel member 37 of the merchandise divider 35,extending about the rear edge of the shelf panel. The rear panel edge isthus spaced slightly from the upright structure by reason of thethickness of material of the channel member intervening between the backpanel 32 and the rear edge of the shelf panel 25. The shelf panelnevertheless in effect engages against the support structure at twospaced points, and thus in large measure applies its stabilizing effectto the structure. The engagementof the shelf panel 25 with the supportstructure serves to hold the shelf panel 25 against transverse movement.It also serves to prevent longitudinal movement of the panel, or inother words movement transversely of the brackets 10, by reason of thefriction between the forward panel edge and the hook portions, as wellas between the rear edge of the panel and the upright structure. The useof the springs 15, extensible in the respective planes of the bracketbodies 11, also allows the brackets to accommodate to shelf panels 25 ofdifferent widths, as well as to a change in effective width of a shelfpanel by reason of the engagement of channel members 37 or like membersthereon.

The shelf panel may be of any of a number of different materials, suchas wood, metal, hardboard, transparent or other plastic materials, andvarious composition materials, having the requisite properties, inaddition to glass as shown, with substantially the same advantageousresults explained hereinabove. Other modifications of the constructionmay of course be made without departing from the invention. Thus, if itis desired to support a shelf panel across its entire width, the bracketbody 11 may be made of the corresponding length, and the spring 15attached thereto rearwardly of its forward end to requ re expansion inorder to engage the shelf panel and apply the resilient biasing forcethereto. Other means than the hook portion 18 may be employed forengagement of the spring with the shelf panel, and other resilient orelastic means acting substantially in the plane of the bracket body maybe employed in place of the coil spring 15. Still other changes andmodifications might be made, depending upon the specific application ofthe invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited otherwisethan as required by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shelf bracket for supporting a shelf panel, comprising an elongatedbracket body adapted to extend transversely of the shelf panel and of alength less than the transverse dimensions of the panel, and a coilspring having one end attached to said bracket body and having at theother end a hook-like element integral with said.

spring for engaging, a panel edge portion to apply resilient forcethereto in the vertical plane of the bracket.

2. A support structure for a shelf panel, comprising upright supportmeans, a shelf bracket mounted on said support means and projectingoutwardly therefrom a distance less than the transverse dimension of thepanel for supportingly receiving the panel thereon, and a coil springhaving one end attached to the outer end of said bracket and having atthe other end a hook-like extension engageable over an edge of the panelin stressed condition of said spring to urge the panel downwardly towardthe bracket and inwardly toward said upright support means and resistmovement of the panel transversely of and upwardly from the bracket.

3. A support structure for a shelf panel, comprising upright supportmeans, a shelf bracket mounted on said support means and projectingoutwardly therefrom for supportingly receiving thereon a shelf panelwith an edge portion directed outwardly of said support means, andresilient means attached to said bracket and said panel edge portion andtensioned in order to extend between the respective points of attachmentto urge the panel downwardly toward the bracket and inwardly toward saidupright support means and resist movement of the panel upwardly from andtransversely of the bracket.

4. A shelf bracket for supporting a shelf panel, comprising an elongatedbracket body adapted to extend transversely of a shelf panel, andresiliently elongatable metal means having one end attached to saidbracket body and the other end removably attachable to a panel edgeportion to apply resilient force thereto acting substantially in thevertical plane of the bracket with resultant resistance to panelmovement transversely of and upwardly from the bracket, said elongatablemeans in unstressed condition being shorter than the distance betweenthe points of attachment thereof to the bracket body and said edgeportion, and means integral with said elongatable means for engagementwith said panel edge portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,779,236 10/1930 Hoegger 2482502,833,420 5/1958 Streater l08-144 2,933,195 4/1960 Radek 21l1532,998,107 8/1961 Zimmerla- 52-36 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,021,549 12/1957Germany.

937,111 9/ 1963 Great Britain.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A SHELF BRACKET FOR SUPPORTING A SHELF PANEL, COMPRISING AN ELONGATEDBRACKET BODY ADAPTED TO EXTEND TRANSVERSELY OF THE SHELF PANEL AND OF ALENGTH LESS THAN THE TRANSVERSE DIMENSIONS OF THE PANEL, AND A COILSPRING HAVING ONE END ATTACHED TO SAID BRACKET BODY AND HAVING AT THEOTHER END A HOOK-LIKE ELEMENT INTEGRAL WITH SAID SPRING FOR ENGAGING APANEL EDGE PORTION TO APPLY RESILIENT FORCE THERETO IN THE VERTICALPLANE OF THE BRACKET.